STATE COLLEGE — Brody Gebhard fueled Hempfield’s run to the PIAA Class 6A baseball championship game at the plate and on the mound, leaving an imprint in each of the Black Knights’ first three games of the state tournament.

Thursday was no different.

Gebhard pitched a dazzling complete game at Penn State’s Medlar Field at Lubrano Park to lead Hempfield to a 3-2 win over La Salle College High School and to its first state championship.

He allowed just two runs on five hits, striking out seven — including the final two with the tying run on third base.

“I was a little nervous but I’ve been in that situation before,” Gebhard said of his mindset after Andrew Bogansky led off the bottom of the seventh with a double and was sacrificed to third. “I usually work out (of it) when they get runners on, so I wasn’t too worried.”

Gebhard retired the Explorers in order and threw just 10 pitches or less in three of his seven innings, which allowed him to throw the complete game. He said securing quick innings was immensely important.

The junior retired nine of the first 10 he faced and threw just 34 pitches over the first three innings, the lone damage a groundball single.

Black Knights coach Jeremy Morrison said Gebhard wanted the start despite pitching in the semifinals. He said he felt Gebhard’s composure was great.

“He’s a straight shooter,” Morrison said. “There’s not a lot of frills. He just tells you what he thinks.”

Gebhard’s most stressful inning before the seventh came in the fourth with Hempfield leading 3-0.

Matt Gannon roped a leadoff double to right-center and eventually scored on a wild pitch. But Gebhard struck out Frank Provenzano swinging to limit the damage in a 22-pitch inning.

The only other inning the Explorers scored was the sixth.

After a one-pitch groundout to start the frame, a walk and a single forced a mound visit as La Salle brought the go-ahead run to the plate. Kevin Schmidt lined an RBI single shortly after, but Gebhard retired Provenzano on a flyout to right to keep Hempfield ahead by one.

The bottom of the seventh provided another dangerous situation for Gebhard, but the right-hander secured the back-to-back strikeouts — the only time he achieved in the game — to start a mob at the edge of the infield grass.

“It was awesome,” Gebhard said. “There was no feeling like it.”

Hempfield vs. La Salle College - PIAA Class 6A baseball championship [photos]

Gebhard pitched in three of Hempfield’s four wins in the state tournament, including a no-hitter in the second round against McDowell.

At the plate, he had five hits, including a double and a home run, three RBIs and six runs during states.

Gebhard said he believed facing unfamiliar teams during the state championships allowed for less stress than in the regular season, helping lead to his success in Hempfield’s run.

“We just had to see where it went, just see where it takes you,” Gebhard said. “Once you’re playing new teams … you just go out and play your game.”

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